Toddlers and Tears: The sexualization of young girls

The sexualization of girls is happening earlier because of marketers for children, reality shows and expositions of "true beauty" through child beauty contests. Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras are just one way self image for girls is influenced.

“They should be out being creative and imaginative, and when they focus on being sexy women it takes away learning opportunities. It takes away the beauty of childhood.”

Melissa Wardy

Little girls wanting to be sexy, which can interrupt the natural flow of age and social development, warps and compromises the girls' psycho-sexual development, according to Kendrick, which can lead to problems in later stages of child and adulthood.

Parents pitting girls against one another and saying "May the prettiest win" sets them up for a future where they believe success, prizes and positive attention will only come if they are the prettiest and act in a sexy manner, Kendrick said of child beauty pageants and their effect on young girls.

"At its core it is teaching girls that the best thing (they) can do, and the most attention they can get is to view (themselves) as an assemblage of body parts," Kendrick said. "And that you will focus on drawing attention to those body parts sets them up for all manner of problems in their lives — self-esteem, eating disorders, relationships they enter into."

Of those involved in reality shows about the world of child beauty pageants, like TLC's "Toddlers and Tiaras" Kendrick said, "Unfortunately these kids are not at all being helped by being filmed ... they are not only just pageant girls, they are TV stars and the pressure is excessive."

The role of parents

"Pageant society focuses on flaws and our society builds on that. We have to teach girls they can own their strength and adhere to their standards," Silverman said. "It is important to teach that kind of language ... if you are trying to teach them to feel good about themselves, you can not be cutting yourself down. We have to watch the negative terms we refer to."

Silverman believes there are a couple of ways in which parents can help children develop healthy self-esteem and worth, including media literacy and rules on communication in the home.

"I think it's really important that kids get involved in media literacy, at an early age for girls. You can look at catalogs and point out positive images and negative images," Silverman said. "They need to have the language and understand what is in the media has been altered by a lot of different vehicles."

Silverman has noticed when girls are informed about deceptions in the media they often become angry and want to fight back against it. Understanding the messages media is sending often leads to healthier views of self and worth for young girls.

"It's important for girls to be able to speak about themselves in a strength-based manner so they are saying what they are good at and what others are good at," Silverman said.

Popular Comments

Scary stuff. I find beauty pageants for adolescent girls disturbing. To be
honest I have never been a fan of beauty pageants for any age group.

7:40 a.m. Nov. 18, 2012

Top comment

aceroinox

Farmington, UT

This article seems to miss the point. No, we shouldn't be sexualizing young
girls with tight, revealing clothing and "glamour shoot" makeup and
hair. But the real problem lies in the fact that adult women are also being
dragged into that
More..

1:10 p.m. Nov. 18, 2012

Top comment

CP

Tooele, UT

I think the picture with this article says it all..this little girl is not happy
and it seems to me that these poor little children who have to endure this
don't have a say. It's all for the parent. Let little children be just
that..little
More..